Stories from Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to conduct a drive soon that chamber officials said should result in a sharp increase in chamber membership. The chamber membership drive -- the first such event since 2005 -- will take place Nov. ...

Women who work at Mercy Health Center in addition to those in the local community are being encouraged to take control of not just their health, but also their minds and spirits. Mercy Health Center is a member of Spirit of Women, a national organization consisting of hospitals and health systems in more than 60 cities throughout the United States who are dedicated to advancing the cause of women's health...

DURBIN -- Alicia Jo Murillo Durbin, a girl, was born at 9:28 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, 2007, at Mercy Health Center to parents Maria E. Durbin, Fulton, and Miguel Murillo Tovar, Pryor, Okla. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. She joins a brother, Manuel Ayala. Maternal grandparents are Jesse and Virginia Durbin, Fulton, and Tom and Terra Olivas, Fort Scott. Paternal grandparents are Alicia de Jesus and Jose Luis, Jalisco...

MIDKIFF -- Blayne Ryan Midkiff, a boy, was born at Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott on Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, to mother Breanna Marie Thomas of Uniontown. He weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. at birth. Maternal grandfather is Dennis Thomas, Kingdom CIty, Mo. Maternal great grandma is Betty Gene Adams, Auxvasse, Mo...

Kevin, Rachel and Kole Wagner, Charles and Paula Brewer and Clara Brewer attended the fall program at the Fort Scott Christian Heights school Oct. 19. Kole was a participant. Arlene Hawkins is here from California visiting at the home of Dean and Effie Mitchell and other relatives...

Senior citizens can take steps to maintain a healthy heart. The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) Health Care Options offers tips to senior citizens to help them keep their hearts healthy. Although keeping one's heart healthy is not difficult, it does take a small amount of effort on an older American's part. ...

Despite an effort by his defense attorney to get him probation, a judge sentenced Charles E. Simmons Monday to 30 months in prison for possession of cocaine in 2004. Gil Gregory, Simmons' attorney, asked Bourbon County Court Judge Mark Ward to place his client on probation, instead of presumptive prison that was called for under the Kansas sentencing guidelines...